DragonTongue

My first orginal story.

Chapter 1

Dragons and humans have learned to coexist with each other after nearly 5,000 years of fear. In 2084, the dragons came out of hiding. Most just came out warily, sending their playful young cautiously out to the world to befriend the children of the humans. Upon seeing the playful nature of most reptiles, the humans gradually accepted the existence of these great and gentle beings and allowed them into their advanced societies. The world unified as one, known once as the Earth Federation. Peace and prosperity followed.

However, the peace was not to last.

Some dragons began to notice the harmony between their brethren fraying as the humans took advantage of them over generations, using them as beasts of burden or pets rather than companions. They complained to the Elders, who were stunned: how could the humans do this?

The race was divided. Some wanted revenge for the ill treatment upon them and attacked, decimating many communities and eliminating countries.

Others preferred to remain in hiding and did so while still others held onto the hope and faith that humans would one day return the dragons to their status as companions and comrades.

The humans gradually learned to fear the dragons, casting them out of their villages and attacking and killing the dragons that remained.

This circle of violence and betrayal continued for nearly 500 years. In that time, a dark dragon lord was born.

His name was long forgotten as the dragon tongue is impossible for humans to pronounced, so he dubbed himself Arcturus and the name stuck for both worlds.

Arcturus was a ruthless wyrm. He killed most of his 19 hatch-mates nearly a week after hatching. By his claws alone, nearly a fifth of the World Federation’s ten billion perished. Any remaining society on his continent, once known as Europe, perished. His present nesting grounds lie in a forest outside of what was once Hamburg, Germany.

Three hatchmates survived the brutal slaughter wrought by their brother in their nesting grounds: a female and two males. The female followed her brother’s footsteps and conquered what was once Africa while one of the males eliminated most of the ancient continent South America’s population and society.

The other male disappeared some years after he challenged his brother; many think he is dead. Others think he is hiding with his young and mate in the Northern Ice Island, formerly known as Greenland. Either way, people say he will return in the form of a human to destroy his brother and recreate the World Federation.

The weaponry the humans had invented was destroyed except for a small factory in the Ice Continent. It was unable to keep up with demands and soon firearms were no more. Humanity was reduced back to the bow and arrow and the spear once more.

That was nearly three hundred years ago. The World Federation’s population was decimated and only one million humans live on this planet now—one for every two hundred dragons.

“However, all dragons must not be thought of as evil. Most dragons that ally themselves with humans have either gone into hiding or were killed for their beliefs—oh, look at the time. We’ll stop here for today.”

Madam Lisan closed the large history book with a loud thump, waking the students that had dozed off. “Quiz first thing tomorrow! Now be off with you all; I’ve work to do!”

The fifteen students in the room rose teir eir feet and bowed to the instructor and left the classroom.

Kital yawned. “That was one of the most boring things I have ever had to put up with. What do you think, Abitsu?”

Abitsu shook his tightly curled black hair and ran a chocolate skinned hand through it. “You really should pay attention; this is the history of humanity!”

“Lighten up, ‘Su!” Cora gently poked the back of the boy’s head. “Besides, we learned this in the primary grades.”

Abitsu adjusted his glasses, which had come awry with Cora’s lighthearted poke. “Be careful! Mother paid a month’s wages for these.”

Kital sighed. “Let’s just get home to Amile; she’s probably furious with me for dawdling!”

It was a rule that as soon as the Higher Learning center let out, all students must return to their homes. Kital’s was the Dragontongue Academy, while Cora lived down the street with Abitsu and his family.

Amile was the headmistress of the Academy and Kital’s trainer. She was also Kital’s foster mother as the woman’s parents had died in a storm.

With her perfectly proportioned legs, Kital raced down the forest path, knee length black braid and tanned cloak flowing behind her. Cora yelled for her to wait, then playfully gave chase. Abitsu sighed, then ran after the two women.

They both caught up with Kital in a clearing mere yards from the training center. The woman held out her hand, halting them. She put a finger to her lips and pointed up. Cora’s turquoise eyes widened and she clamped a hand over her mouth.

Abitsu came crashing through the underbrush. “Why is—mmph?!” Kital slapped a pale hand over his mouth, eyeill ill turned to the sky. The young man turned his eyes skyward to see the tail of a black dragon gliding passed. It banked and turned its wings upward, causing it to slowly lose altitude.

Frightened beyond belief, the three watched the dragon glide to a halt and light on the lawn of the house near them—not the DragonTongue Academy. It sniffed about the based of the house and gave a derived snort before turning to the group.

Kital felt Abitsu tense up; the man dropped his books.

“You three know you have a curfew, right?” the dragon asked intimidatingly. Any other person would have heard: “GrrrARRR fgrrrgrsthrr?”

Any other person other than Kital. She felt Abitsu faint.

“Is your friend alright?” The dragon came closer. It was a young adult, but still dangerous due to its temper. Young adults were known to destroy whole villages because one person breathed wrong.

Cora gasped and her turquoise eyes went so wide, Kital thought they would pop out of her head.

“What’s your name, child?”

“K-Kital.” Kital stood her ground. Don’t be afraid; they can smell the adrenaline coursing through you, she heard Amile’s words echoing through her head.

“And what are your friends’ names?” The dragon stopped less than three feet from Kital; she resisted the urge to back up. Its yellow-green eyes bore through her.

“That’s Cora and this is Abitsu.” Kital grew braver. She carefully handed off the dazed Abitsu to Cora and stepped forward so she was within a foot of the dragon’s fangs. This dragon was large enough that if he chose to bite, he would bite the small girl in half. I’m not trying to assert authority, I’m just trying to show you I am not afraid. I am insignificant and I am not worthy to be in your presence. She kept herself small and averted her eyes from the dragon’s; to stare into a dragon’s eyes was to sign one’s own death warrant.

“You are a brave one, you are. Get to your homes; your mistress is waiting for you, Kital.” The dragon smiled and opened his impressive wingspan and flapped clear of the trees. “And she is very angry with you!” he shouted down with a chuckle.

Kital’s legs turned to jelly and she nearlylapslapsed.

“Can we go home now?” Cora whimpered.